President of Onitsha Country Club Fegge, Anietonwa Ajulufo, says efforts are on to make the club a breeding ground for national and international tennis and international champions.
Angel Network News (ANN) reports that while playing host to members of Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), Anambra Chapter on Sunday, Ajulufo
said the club was planning to set up tennis and table tennis academies.
Ajulufo who conducted SWAN members around the Club’s facility said the initiative was part of the Club’s contribution to addressing the problem of out of school children and youths in Fegge and the entire Onitsha through giving talented ones the opportunity to get a career in tennis.
“We are collecting names of players, the search for a coach is ongoing, by January 2025 we should be able to start off” he said.
He revealed that the club had been undergoing massive remodeling and rehabilitation since he took over as the President of the club in March 2023 with the aim to bring the facility up to International standard.
The President maintained that some of the projects undertaken were renovation of the squash court, and upgrade of the indoor sports hall housing the gym, the snooker and table tennis which was completed and Inaugurated by late Sen. Ifeanyi Ubah in July.
He said Country Club Onitsha would reach out to the Nigeria Tennis Federation and Nigeria Table Tennis Federation for possible staging of national competitions after the four tennis courts under reconstruction would have been completed in December.
“A lot of people don’t know this sports club exists here, that is the reason why I embarked on massive infrastructure development since we came on board.
“We have been able to get a functional 28 seater Coaster A/C bus after 20 years. and also installed solar energy lights to manage high electricity bill.
“A lot of things you see we’ve done here, we did it within the past one year. It has been very stressful but considering the fact that I know where I am going, that is why I have been pushing, making sure we conclude everything within the next four months.
“We do not have partnership with Anambra unless the three days they used here for the ongoing traders sports competition,” he said.
ANN gathered that under Ajulufo’s administration, over N80 million to N100 million in the last 18 months had been invested with over N100 millions still needed for completion of all ongoing projects including 400 capacity pavilion and a mini football stadium for younger members of the club.
Chairman of SWAN in Anambra, Mr. Chimezie Anaso who commended the club leadership and members for their commitment to sports development said he looked forward to when members of the club would dominate tennis in Nigeria.
Anaso expressed readiness of the sports press in Anambra to support the club through media promotion of its activities.
The SWAN delegation included Ikem Asika, Vice President of SWAN in Southeast, Emmanuel Ndukuba, a former chairman of the chapter and Marvelous Ezenwa a official in the State.
